専攻
senkō[sẽ̞ŋko̞ː]
The English phrase "college major" is translated into Japanese as 専攻 (senkō).
専攻 is used to refer to the specific subject or field of study that a student chooses to specialize in at a college or university.
How do you pronounce it?
senkō
Did you know?
- Unlike in the US, many Japanese students are locked into their 専攻 from the moment they enter university and find it extremely difficult to change majors later.
- The kanji 専 in 専攻 carries the meaning of 'exclusive' or 'sole', implying that the student is devoting themselves entirely to one single path.
- In Japan, when someone asks about your 'major', they often use the word 学部 (gakubu), which literally means 'faculty' or 'department', to identify your field of study.
Examples in context
- 私の専攻は心理学ですMy college major is psychology.
- 私の専門は経済学ですMy college major is economics.
- 俺の専攻はコンピューターサイエンスだよMy major is computer science.
- 経済学を専攻しています。I am majoring in economics.
- 大学の専攻は何ですか？daigaku no senkou wa nan desu ka?What is your college major?
- 私の専攻は経済学です。watashi no senkou wa keizaigaku desu.My major is economics.
- 専攻を変えるのは難しいです。senkou o kaeru no wa muzukashii desu.It is difficult to change one's major.
Example conversation
Two students are chatting in a university cafe.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さんの専攻は何ですか？misaki-san no senkou wa nan desu ka?Misaki, what is your major?
- 美咲 Misaki文学です。大翔さんは？bungaku desu. hiroto-san wa?It's literature. How about you, Hiroto?
- 大翔 Hiroto僕は工学を専攻しています。boku wa kougaku o senkou shite imasu.I am majoring in engineering.
- 美咲 Misakiそれは大変そうですね。sore wa taihen sou desu ne.That sounds tough.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 専攻, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
